Poster Presentation 38th Lorne Cancer Conference 2026

Revolutionising leukaemia care: a non-invasive salivary-cytology-based screening (#145)

Falak Fazal 1 , Yen Ting Wong 1 2 , Jeffrey Craig 1 2 3 , Rosanne Guijt 4 , Chamindie Punyadeera 5 , Vera Ignjatovic 3 6 , Ashley Ng 7 , Philip Campbell 8
  1. School of Medicine, , Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
  2. Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia, Royal Children’s Hospital,, Melbourne , VIC, Australia
  3. Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Royal Children’s Hospital, Flemington Road, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne , VIC, Australia
  4. School of Engineering, Deakin University, Geelong Waurn Ponds campus, Australia , Deakin University, Geelong, VIC, Australia
  5. School of Environment and Science, Griffith University Brisbane South (Nathan), Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road QLD 4111, Australia, Griffith University Brisbane South (Nathan), Brisbane, QLD, Australia
  6. Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, the University of Melbourne., The University of Melbourne, Melbourne , Vic, Australia
  7. Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), 1 Royal Parade, Parkville Victoria 3052, Australia, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research (WEHI), Vic, Australia
  8. Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Geelong 3220 VIC, Andrew Love Cancer Centre, Geelong, Vic, Australia

Leukaemia, a malignancy of white blood cells (WBCs), is characterised by an abnormal proliferation of leucocytes in the blood and bone marrow, posing significant clinical and psychosocial challenges [1,2,3]. It remains the most common cancer in children under five years of age, contributing substantially to childhood mortality and placing immense emotional and economic burdens on families and healthcare systems [3,5].

Current diagnostic and monitoring practices predominantly rely on invasive blood draws, procedures that are not only distressing for patients but also elevate risks of infection [3,4]. These challenges highlight an urgent need for non-invasive, sensitive, and reliable diagnostic alternatives, particularly for vulnerable populations [1,3]. Saliva is a rich source of various cells and other biological markers [6]. It is a non-invasive medium of sampling, the ease of collecting saliva makes it an attractive alternative to traditional blood draws, which can be painful and invasive [7].

This study focuses on developing a novel protocol for the isolation and cytological analysis of leukaemia-associated cells in saliva samples. A sequential filtration and density gradient-based method was successfully established to isolate leucocytes from saliva, achieving a high recovery rate of viable cells with clear morphological preservation. Preliminary results from healthy participants demonstrate that cellular content in saliva shows promising concordance with peripheral blood samples, particularly in leucocyte subpopulation profiles.

The ongoing phase of this research involves a direct comparative analysis of saliva and blood samples from leukaemia patients to evaluate the diagnostic reliability of saliva in assessing disease progression and treatment response. In parallel, the psychosocial impact of frequent blood withdrawals is being assessed, with early feedback indicating a strong patient preference for saliva-based sampling due to reduced discomfort and anxiety.

This study introduces a potentially transformative, patient-friendly approach to leukaemia diagnostics, aiming to reduce the clinical burden of invasive sampling while maintaining diagnostic accuracy. By advancing saliva cytology as a viable diagnostic tool, this research aligns with the growing imperative to develop safer, more compassionate healthcare practices.

 

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